NTSB Identification: CEN17FA28814 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Thursday, July 27, 2017 in Laddonia, MOAircraft: ZENITH CH701SP, registration: N701XLInjuries: 2 Fatal.This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.On July 27, 2017, about 0415 central daylight time, a Zenith CH 701SP, N701XP, piloted by a non-instrument rated sport pilot, was destroyed when the it impacted terrain approximately 6.5 miles north of Laddonia, and 16.5 miles northeast of Mexico, Missouri. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were fatally injured. The cross-country flight originated from Mexico Municipal Airport (KMYJ), Mexico, Missouri, about 0400, and was en route to Oshkosh (OSH), Wisconsin.According to the airport manager, the airplane arrived late in the day on July 26. The pilot said he wanted to get an early start the next morning because he wanted to arrive at OSH when the control tower opened at 0700. The manager said he believed the pilot and his wife camped that evening next to the airplane. When the manager arrived at the airport the next morning, the airplane was gone. The airplane was later reported missing and an ALNOT (Alert Notice) was issued that evening. The wreckage was located early the next morning.The on-scene investigation revealed the airplane struck the ground in a right wing low, nose down attitude as evidenced by green position light fragments at the beginning of the ground scar, followed by the impact crater. A crushed right wing and relatively intact left wing were located further down the debris path, followed by the fuselage and engine. The debris path was aligned on a heading back towards Mexico. There is no record that the pilot obtained a weather briefing or filed a flight plan.Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.

Shannon and Bobby Faulkner

Shannon Faulkner

Bobby Faulkner during 2016 Adventure Arkansas

RALLS COUNTY, Mo. (WGEM) -A plane crashed in southern Ralls County, Missouri, Thursday morning, killing two people, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.MSHP Sgt. Eric Brown said troopers were called to help search for the plane at 11:24 p.m. He said the plane crashed six miles northwest of Laddonia, Missouri."Anytime we receive a request for a search and rescue style incident such as this, you always prepare yourself for the worst," Brown said.According to a news release, Troop F headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri, was requested by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center to help locate a missing aircraft.MSHP stated the plane left Mexico, Missouri, and was headed to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.Authorities said crews were able to find the wreckage because of GPS coordinates they were provided."Those coordinates were crucial in locating this crash quickly," Brown said. "Even with the coordinates it can be very difficult. As you can tell out here there is no artificial lighting at all, the crash wreckage is very low to the ground, and the soybeans effectively hide it."MSHP reported the 2003 Zenith 701 single-engine plane was found crashed in a soybean field at 12:56 a.m. Investigators said it was determined the plane crashed early Thursday morning."We estimate the time of the crash to actually have occurred around 4:50 in the morning on Thursday," Brown said at the crash site. "So several hours, lots of hours had gone by prior to emergency crews in this area being notified to begin searching for this missing aircraft."The two occupants, identified as Bobby Faulkner, 41, and Shannon Faulkner, 41, both of Greenwood, Arkansas, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Ralls County coroner, the release stated.MSHP reported Bobby Faulkner was believed to be the pilot.Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration arrived to the crash site Friday to investigate. It's unclear what caused the crash.Bobby Faulkner was featured in a story by NBC affiliate KNWA, out of Rogers, Arkansas. You can see the story here.http://www.wgem.comRALLS COUNTY, Mo. (KFSM) — A Greenwood couple was killed in a plane crash late on Thursday night (July 27).Around 11:20 p.m., the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center requested the help of the Missouri Highway Patrol in finding a missing aircraft that had taken off from Mexico, Missouri, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report.Investigators were able to find a GPS location in rural Ralls County. Deputies found the missing plane around 1 a.m.The single-engine Zenith 701 aircraft had crashed in a soybean field about six miles northwest of Laddonia, Missouri.Bobby Faulkner, 41, and Shannon Faulkner, 41, both of Greenwood, were identified as the occupants of the aircraft and were pronounced dead at the scene.Investigators said they believe Bobby Faulkner was piloting the plane, which was heading to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.The Federal Aviation Administration will do a complete investigation on the plane on Friday (July 28). At this time, the reason for the crash is unknown.Bobby Faulkner took 5NEWS on a flight in a powered parachute in 2016 during an Adventure Arkansas.Faulkner talked to us about his love of flying.“There’s nothing like it,” Faulkner said. “I mean when you’re up in the air your troubles are behind you and you’re just free.”http://5newsonline.com

Sergeant Eric Brown with the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirms with KHQA a fatal plane crash occurred late Thursday night.The call came in at 11:24 p.m. and Troop F in Jefferson City, Missouri received a request from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center to assist with locating a missing aircraft.The aircraft had taken off from the Mexico, Missouri airport with a destination of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.Just before 1 a.m. on Friday morning, emergency crews located a 2003 Zenith 701 single-engine airplane crashed in a soybean field.The plane was located six miles northwest of Laddonia, Missouri in Ralls County off of Kentucky Trail.Both occupants of the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene by Ralls County Coroner Robert Van Winkle.The occupants have been identified as husband and wife Bobby Faulkner, 41, and Shannon Faulkner, 41, of Greenwood, Arkansas. It is believed Bobby Faulkner was the pilot of the aircraft.In a Friday afternoon press conference, Sgt. Brown says the plane initially crashed around 4:50 a.m. on Thursday.Sgt. Brown says the couple may have stopped in Mexico, Missouri for fuel but it's too early to determine.At this time, it is unknown where the aircraft flight plan originated. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration will be on scene Friday to conduct a complete investigation.NTSB is investigating an accident involving Zenith CH701SP Experimental aircraft that crashed in Mexico, MO today.To Sgt. Brown's knowledge, the last fatal plane crash in Ralls County was in 2015.http://khqa.com

Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Eric Brown

The Federal Aviation Administration has been called in to investigate a fatal plane crash in southern Ralls County.An Arkansas couple is dead following a late Thursday night plane crash in southern Ralls County.The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the single-plane crash in a rural soybean field near the Audrain County line.According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol the occupants have been identified as Bobby Faulkner, 41, and Shannon Faulkner, 41, of Greenwood, Ark. It is believed Bobby Faulkner was the pilot of the aircraft.On July 27, 2017, at approximately 11:24 p.m., Troop F Headquarters in Jefferson City, Mo., received a request from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center to assist with locating a missing aircraft they were attempting to locate. The aircraft had recently taken off from the Mexico, Mo., airport with a destination of Oshkosh, Wisc. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center provided a GPS location in rural Ralls County for troopers to check.Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Ralls County Sheriff’s Office, Ralls County Ambulance District, Perry Fire Department, and Ralls County first responders began checking the area. On July 28, at approximately 12:56 a.m., emergency personnel located a 2003 Zenith 701 single-engine airplane crashed in a soybean field approximately six miles northwest of Laddonia, Mo.Both occupants of the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene by Ralls County Coroner Robert Van Winkle.At this time, it is unknown where the aircraft’s flight plan originated.http://www.mexicoledger.com